My Eyes...A Saga. Part 3.

Recovery Update.

The check-up went very well. My eyes are healing as everyone hoped, and all restrictions have been lifted. I can lift weights again, do cardio. I can bend over to tie my shoes. I can shower with full water pressure and without fearing the droplets getting in my eyes. I can wash my face properly (what a relief; it's been So nasty greasy). The doctor indicated I don't have to wear my sleeping goggles anymore (I was almost disappointed), which means I can also sleep on one pillow instead of many, which has been killing my back. Maybe I can sleep on my side now, too. What joy!

I'm off the antibiotic eye drop, and weaning myself off the steroid one. I have an added drop to help with healing, and continue with the artificial tears and oral supplement to help produce tears. All of this is very easy, though, and works into my day seamlessly.

The only slightly uncomfortable part of my visit was the stitches removal. The whole idea of how it would be done made me anxious for a few days preceding the appointment. But, as usual, it ended up not being as terrifying as I'd anticipated. After numbing my eye with drops (this is the method now, no more needles in the eye to numb it...that's old school), she had an assistant hold open one eye, and using a highly powered magnifying glass, she used a tool to break the "thread" (I don't know what substance it really is). I heard the *ping* of the break. Then she used another, tweezer-like tool to pull it out. That pull was the weirdest thing I've ever experienced. Weirder than having my hand stitches cut out, weirder than the actual eye surgery. It made my eye RUN, but didn't hurt one ounce. The left eye stitch had actually worked itself loose, which is why my vision has been better at this stage in the recovery. It was an easy removal, and I felt even less than I'd felt with the right eye.

I celebrated my release from all restrictions by working out. I was a little dizzy at first, but managed to get in 2.5 miles of good cardio. Felt great.

The doctor herself seemed thrilled with my recovery and how well I'm seeing. My left eye is nearly at 20/15. My right eye has some catching up to do in the next few weeks, but they fully believe it will. And that, my friends, is a miracle.

I had a scare last night at about 3am. In my sleep, as I dreamt about a Chicago outing with Elaine and her parents, I woke up rubbing my eye. This is BAD. I mean, the worst possible thing I could do. And, as none of us is rational in the middle of the night, I nearly lost my mind in worry. I almost called the on-call doctor with PVG to ask if I needed to come in. Kyle encouraged me to relax and simply put my goggles back on. I slept little for the remainder of the night, imagining the phone conversation and then needing to set up alternative work situations (as I'm on duty all day Saturday).
I even woke up once with my eye hurting. After investigating, I found an eyelash that I'm sure I rubbed INTO my eye during the fateful incident.

When I finally got up to get ready for work, I realized I could see as well, if not better, than yesterday. That set my mind at partial ease. I will be wearing my goggles at night at least until my next appointment in a month. I have been great about keeping my hands away while I'm awake, but who can control themselves while sleeping? I have always loved rubbing my eyes and I know that it's not an easy habit to break. I can't take any chances. So, a very scary night following my good report with the doctor.

Please continue to pray for healing, that I won't mess with my eyes - rubbing them or putting pressure on them.

Here's a Saturday cheers! to truly seeing, a luxury I never thought possible for me. To something I've never been able to take for granted, and hopefully never will now that I have it.